US 45 in Tennessee: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 48 fatal crashes on US 45 in Tennessee killed 54 people. In 2024 there were 6 fatal crashes and 7 deaths on the road.
An US route running through 4 counties of Tennessee. All fatal crashes in Tennessee.
Deaths on US 45 in Tennessee by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | 7 |
| 2023 | 7 | 7 |
| 2022 | 5 | 6 |
| 2021 | 5 | 5 |
| 2020 | 8 | 12 |
| 2019 | 9 | 9 |
| 2018 | 5 | 5 |
| 2016 | 2 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 45 in Tennessee: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Madison County County had the most fatal crashes on US 45 from 2015 to 2024: 20, with 21 deaths. Madison, McNairy and Chester counties together held 92% of fatal crashes in US 45 in Tennessee from 2015 to 2024. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madison County | 3 | 20 | 21 |
| 2 | McNairy County | 2 | 17 | 19 |
| 3 | Chester County | 1 | 7 | 9 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen on US 45 in Tennessee
Too few crashes to name a heaviest slot. The grid shows the shares; a share is only given over 20 crashes.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 2.1 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 6.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 6.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 8.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 4.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 6.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 4.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan4.2%
- Feb12.5%
- Mar12.5%
- Apr10.4%
- May2.1%
- Jun12.5%
- Jul8.3%
- Aug10.4%
- Sep8.3%
- Oct4.2%
- Nov12.5%
- Dec2.1%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on US 45 in Tennessee first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in most fatal crashes, 71%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 13%, a pedestrian in 8.3%, a rollover in 6.2%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 34 | 71% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 6 | 13% |
| Pedestrian | 4 | 8.3% |
| Rollover | 3 | 6.2% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 2.1% |
| Cyclist | 0 | 0.0% |
| Other | 0 | 0.0% |
| Not reported | 0 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes on US 45 in Tennessee compare with the state
A drinking driver was recorded in 17% of fatal crashes in US 45 in Tennessee from 2015 to 2024, below the Tennessee share of 25%; speeding in 10%, below the Tennessee share of 17%; a hit-and-run in 4.2%, below the Tennessee share of 6.6%; 47% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, below the Tennessee share of 49%. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Tennessee. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| US 45 | Tennessee | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 52% | 43% | above the Tennessee share |
| At or near an intersection | 31% | 19% | above the Tennessee share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 25% | 26% | about the same as the Tennessee share |
| A drinking driver | 17% | 25% | below the Tennessee share |
| Speeding | 10% | 17% | below the Tennessee share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 47% | 49% | below the Tennessee share |
| Hit-and-run | 4.2% | 6.6% | below the Tennessee share |
| A motorcycle involved | 6.2% | 15% | below the Tennessee share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 7.4% | 13% | below the Tennessee share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Questions about fatal crashes in US 45 in Tennessee
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 45 in Tennessee?
- 48 fatal crashes killed 54 people on US 45 in Tennessee from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 6 fatal crashes and 7 deaths.
- Where on US 45 in Tennessee do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Madison County had the most fatal crashes on US 45 from 2015 to 2024: 20, with 21 deaths. McNairy County was second with 17.
Other roads in Tennessee with a page
- I-24
- I-240
- I-26
- I-40
- I-65
- I-75
- I-81
- I-840
- State Highway 111
- State Highway 14
- State Highway 175
- State Highway 33
All fatal crashes in Tennessee, with every road ranked.
Where the US 45 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 45 in Tennessee (filed under 11 spellings, such as "US-45", "US-45 SR-367 S COLLEGE ST", "US-45 SR-43 S FIRST ST", "US-45 SR-5"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.